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🔧 Visual Workflow Builder

The Visual Workflow Builder is HornetHive's powerful drag-and-drop interface for creating sophisticated AI-powered workflows. Design complex automation sequences that combine multiple AI crews, integrations, and business logic with an intuitive visual interface.

✨ Key Features​

Drag-and-Drop Interface​

  • Visual Node Creation: Drag nodes from the palette to the canvas
  • Connection System: Connect nodes by dragging from output to input handles
  • Real-time Validation: Instant feedback on workflow structure and errors
  • Live Preview: See your workflow execute in real-time

Node Types​

  • 🤖 AI Agent Nodes: Execute specific AI crew tasks
  • 🔀 Condition Nodes: Implement conditional logic and branching
  • ⚡ Integration Nodes: Connect to external services and APIs
  • 📊 Data Nodes: Process, transform, and store data
  • ⏰ Trigger Nodes: Initiate workflows based on events or schedules
  • ✅ Decision Nodes: Human approval gates and manual interventions

Advanced Capabilities​

  • Parallel Execution: Run multiple branches simultaneously
  • Error Handling: Robust error recovery and fallback paths
  • Template System: Pre-built workflows for common use cases
  • Version Control: Track changes and revert to previous versions

🚀 Getting Started​

1. Access the Workflow Builder​

Navigate to the workflow builder from multiple entry points:

  • HiveCore Dashboard: Main workflows section
  • Direct URL: /hivecore/workflows
  • Navigation Menu: Workflows → Visual Builder

2. Create Your First Workflow​

  1. Click "Create Workflow" button
  2. Choose a template or start from scratch
  3. Drag nodes from the palette to the canvas
  4. Connect nodes by dragging from output handles to input handles
  5. Configure each node's properties
  6. Validate and save your workflow

3. Execute and Monitor​

  • Click "Execute" to run your workflow
  • Monitor real-time progress with visual indicators
  • View detailed execution logs and results
  • Make adjustments and iterate

🎨 Node Types & Usage​

🤖 AI Agent Nodes​

Execute specific AI crew tasks within your workflow.

Configuration Options:

  • Crew Type: HivePilot, HiveWriter, HiveMind
  • Agent Type: Specific agent within the crew
  • Input Parameters: Data to pass to the agent
  • Output Mapping: How to use the agent's results

Example Use Cases:

  • Generate PRD with HivePilot
  • Create content with HiveWriter
  • Analyze data with HiveMind
  • Chain multiple agents for complex tasks

🔀 Condition Nodes​

Implement conditional logic and branching in your workflows.

Configuration Options:

  • Condition Expression: JavaScript-like expressions
  • True Path: Actions when condition is met
  • False Path: Actions when condition fails
  • Multiple Conditions: Complex boolean logic

Example Conditions:

// Check data quality
data.confidence > 0.8

// Validate content length
content.length > 1000

// Check user permissions
user.plan === 'premium'

// Time-based conditions
new Date().getHours() < 17

⚡ Integration Nodes​

Connect to external services and APIs.

Supported Integrations:

  • Slack: Send notifications and messages
  • Gmail: Email automation and processing
  • Google Drive: File storage and retrieval
  • Linear: Issue creation and updates
  • Webhooks: Custom HTTP requests
  • Databases: Data storage and queries

Configuration Options:

  • Service Type: Choose integration service
  • Authentication: API keys and OAuth tokens
  • Request Parameters: Data to send
  • Response Handling: Process returned data

📊 Data Nodes​

Process, transform, and store data within workflows.

Operations:

  • Transform: Modify data structure and format
  • Filter: Remove unwanted data elements
  • Aggregate: Combine and summarize data
  • Validate: Check data quality and completeness
  • Store: Save data for later use

Example Transformations:

// Extract key information
{
  title: data.content.title,
  summary: data.content.summary.substring(0, 200),
  tags: data.metadata.tags.filter(tag => tag.priority > 5)
}

// Aggregate metrics
{
  totalWords: content.reduce((sum, item) => sum + item.wordCount, 0),
  averageScore: scores.reduce((sum, score) => sum + score, 0) / scores.length
}

⏰ Trigger Nodes​

Initiate workflows based on events or schedules.

Trigger Types:

  • Manual: User-initiated execution
  • Scheduled: Time-based automation (cron-like)
  • Webhook: External API calls
  • File Upload: Document processing triggers
  • Data Changes: Database or API updates
  • Voice Commands: Voice-activated workflows

Schedule Examples:

Every Monday at 9 AM
Daily at 6 PM
First day of each month
Every Friday afternoon
When new file uploaded

✅ Decision Nodes​

Human approval gates and manual interventions.

Decision Types:

  • Approval Gates: Require human approval to continue
  • Quality Review: Manual content or output review
  • Parameter Input: Collect additional information
  • Route Selection: Choose execution path manually

Configuration:

  • Timeout Settings: Auto-approve after time limit
  • Notification Methods: Email, Slack, in-app alerts
  • Approval Criteria: Required reviewers and permissions
  • Fallback Actions: What to do if no response

🔗 Connection System​

Connection Types​

Different connection types enable sophisticated workflow logic:

  • Sequential: Standard flow from one node to the next
  • Conditional: Flow based on conditions or outcomes
  • Parallel: Split execution into multiple branches
  • Error: Handle failures and exceptions
  • Success: Continue only on successful completion
  • Timeout: Handle time-based failures

Connection Handles​

  • Output Handles (Blue, Right Side): Drag from here to create connections
  • Input Handles (Green, Left Side): Drop connections here
  • Visual Feedback: Real-time connection preview while dragging
  • Validation: Automatic checking for valid connections

Connection Rules​

  • One output can connect to multiple inputs (fan-out)
  • One input can receive from multiple outputs (fan-in)
  • Circular dependencies are automatically detected and prevented
  • Type compatibility is enforced between connected nodes

📋 Workflow Templates​

Content Creation Pipeline​

Pre-built workflow for automated content generation:

  1. Trigger: Content request or schedule
  2. HiveWriter Agent: Generate initial content
  3. Quality Check: Validate content quality
  4. Approval Gate: Human review and approval
  5. Publishing: Distribute to channels

Product Management Workflow​

Comprehensive PRD development process:

  1. Requirements Gathering: Collect stakeholder input
  2. Market Research: Analyze competitive landscape
  3. HivePilot PRD Writer: Generate comprehensive PRD
  4. Stakeholder Review: Collect feedback and approvals
  5. Documentation: Store and distribute final PRD

Data Analysis Pipeline​

Automated data processing and insights:

  1. Data Ingestion: Collect from multiple sources
  2. Data Cleaning: Validate and transform data
  3. HiveMind Analysis: Generate insights and summaries
  4. Report Generation: Create formatted reports
  5. Distribution: Send to stakeholders

Integration Automation​

Cross-platform workflow automation:

  1. Webhook Trigger: External system event
  2. Data Processing: Transform incoming data
  3. Conditional Logic: Route based on data content
  4. Multiple Integrations: Update various systems
  5. Notification: Confirm completion

⚙️ Advanced Features​

Parallel Execution​

Execute multiple workflow branches simultaneously:

  • Performance Benefits: Reduce total execution time
  • Resource Optimization: Utilize available capacity
  • Dependency Management: Automatic synchronization
  • Error Isolation: Failures in one branch don't affect others

Error Handling​

Robust error recovery and fallback mechanisms:

  • Try-Catch Logic: Handle specific error types
  • Retry Mechanisms: Automatic retry with backoff
  • Fallback Paths: Alternative execution routes
  • Error Notifications: Alert users to failures

Variable Management​

Share data between workflow nodes:

  • Global Variables: Available throughout workflow
  • Node Outputs: Pass data between connected nodes
  • Environment Variables: External configuration
  • User Context: Access user and workspace data

Workflow Optimization​

AI-powered suggestions for improving workflows:

  • Performance Analysis: Identify bottlenecks and slow nodes
  • Parallelization Opportunities: Suggest parallel execution
  • Resource Usage: Optimize memory and CPU consumption
  • Cost Optimization: Reduce token usage and API calls

📊 Monitoring & Analytics​

Real-time Execution​

Monitor workflow execution in real-time:

  • Progress Indicators: Visual progress bars on nodes
  • Status Updates: Current execution state
  • Live Logs: Detailed execution information
  • Performance Metrics: Execution time and resource usage

Execution History​

Track workflow performance over time:

  • Success Rates: Percentage of successful executions
  • Average Duration: Typical execution times
  • Error Patterns: Common failure points
  • Usage Trends: Execution frequency and patterns

Performance Optimization​

Identify and resolve performance issues:

  • Bottleneck Detection: Find slow or problematic nodes
  • Resource Analysis: Memory and CPU usage patterns
  • Optimization Suggestions: AI-powered improvement recommendations
  • A/B Testing: Compare different workflow versions

🔐 Security & Permissions​

Access Control​

Secure workflow access and execution:

  • User Permissions: Role-based access control
  • Workspace Isolation: Workflows scoped to workspaces
  • Execution Limits: Rate limiting and quotas
  • Audit Logging: Track all workflow activities

Data Security​

Protect sensitive data in workflows:

  • Encryption: Data encrypted in transit and at rest
  • Secret Management: Secure storage of API keys and tokens
  • Data Isolation: User data never mixed or exposed
  • Compliance: GDPR and SOC2 compliance

💡 Best Practices​

Workflow Design​

  • Start Simple: Begin with basic workflows and add complexity gradually
  • Use Templates: Leverage pre-built templates for common patterns
  • Test Thoroughly: Validate workflows before production use
  • Document Logic: Add descriptions to complex nodes and connections

Performance Optimization​

  • Minimize Dependencies: Reduce unnecessary sequential execution
  • Use Parallel Execution: Run independent tasks simultaneously
  • Optimize Data Flow: Minimize data transfer between nodes
  • Cache Results: Store frequently used data for reuse

Error Handling​

  • Plan for Failures: Add error handling to critical paths
  • Use Timeouts: Prevent workflows from hanging indefinitely
  • Implement Retries: Handle transient failures automatically
  • Monitor Actively: Set up alerts for workflow failures

Maintenance​

  • Version Control: Track changes and maintain workflow history
  • Regular Reviews: Periodically review and optimize workflows
  • Update Dependencies: Keep integrations and APIs current
  • Performance Monitoring: Track metrics and optimize regularly

🚀 Future Enhancements​

Coming Soon​

  • AI-Assisted Design: Automatic workflow generation from descriptions
  • Advanced Templates: Industry-specific workflow templates
  • Custom Node Types: Create your own reusable node types
  • Workflow Marketplace: Share and discover community workflows

Roadmap Features​

  • Multi-Workspace Workflows: Cross-workspace automation
  • External Workflow Triggers: Integration with external systems
  • Advanced Analytics: Predictive performance analysis
  • Collaborative Editing: Real-time collaborative workflow design

Ready to build your first workflow? Start with a template or create from scratch using the Visual Workflow Builder! 🔧✨